175th anniversary Brant Summerfest June 21-22

Thursday June 19, 2014 | By:Brian Campbell | News

BRANT — The town of Brant will celebrate their 175th anniversary this year, with the 11th Annual Summerfest and Strawberry Jam.

The two-day event features a host of family activities, including bounce houses to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, a chicken and beef barbecue, beer tent, farmers market, craft fair, historical displays and basket raffle.

The event gets underway on Saturday with the kickoff ceremony and dedication at noon, recognizing the town’s 175th anniversary. United States Postal Pictorial Cancellation Stamps will be available at the post office beginning at 8 a.m., while historical displays will also be on hand, as well as a Powerpoint presentation in the Recreational Building at 1 and 3 p.m. A strawberry pie-eating contest takes place at 2 p.m; the Goya Foods Cook-Off, featuring cash prizes, begins at 3 p.m. and the Sunset Bluegrass Band will take the stage from 3-6 p.m. There will also be kids fingerprinting from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

The second annual certified and sanctioned Madison 5K Strawberry Run and Walk to benefit the Madison McCarthy Foundation will begin at 7 p.m. The race, which featured approximately 170 participants last year, is expected to grow to between 250-300 this year.

The Diva Show Band will perform at 7 p.m., and there will be a fireworks display at dusk by Skyloighter Fireworks.

“A lot of communities, we need to get together and have something we can be happy about and be proud of, like the Brant Summerfest and Strawberry Jam,” said Supervisor Leonard Pero. “Because of the agriculture in our community, with strawberries being prevalent this time of the year, we decided to have this festival. It’s been steadily growing and has become a place for the town residents to gather and enjoy themselves. It’s a plus; it’s something positive for our community that the kids can enjoy. It’s there for the residents and those around us, our neighbors. There’s enough stress in this world with taxes and everything else, and this is a time to let your hair down, enjoy yourself and have a good time with all of the music, the shows and the food. We’ll have water ball, brought to us by our fire companies, and it’s a time when everyone shares together for two days in June. It’s a positive.”

The second day of Summerfest kicks off with a parade at 12:30 p.m. There will be classic car judging following, an EggXtravaganza Egg Hunt at 3 p.m., the third annual donkey race at 3:30 p.m. and Country Memories and round and square dance from 4-7 p.m. The Battle of the Fire Companies water ball competition will take place at 6 p.m., before the festival closes with a basket raffle drawing and 50-50 drawing. Kids fingerprinting will also take place from 2-4 p.m.

During 11th Annual Summerfest, the town will induct current Highway Supervisor Joseph Giambrone to its wall of fame. Giambrone will become the third inductee to the town’s wall of fame, following Herman J. Ciminesi and Rose Marie DeMaria.

“We honor Joe for his leadership and dedication to the town of Brant,” a proclamation reads for Giambrone, who will be presented with a plaque at Summerfest. “For 30 years, Joe has served the town of Brant as our town superintendent of highways [Jan. 1, 1984 to present], and was hired as a worker Dec. 1, 1978, giving him 36 years of loyal, dedicated service to our town.

“His consecutive years are the most that anyone has ever served as highway superintendent in Brant’s history. Thank you Joe for all you have done, God bless you and your family,” it reads. June 21 and 22 will also be known as “Joseph N. Giambrone Days” in the town of Brant.